Tag: Bruno Cappelozza

Bruno Cappelozza continues PFL roll with memory of father at forefront

Bruno Cappelozza won the PFL’s heavyweight crown in 2021, and his quest to repeat this year got off to a rousing start Thursday.

ARLINGTON, Texas – [autotag]Bruno Cappelozza[/autotag] won the PFL’s heavyweight crown in 2021, and his quest to repeat this year got off to a rousing start Thursday.

Cappelozza (15-5) made fairly easy work of Stuart Austin (15-8) with a first-round TKO to open the season with six points. In 2021, six points was enough to make the postseason, so the fast start for Cappelozza may prove to be crucial.

After the win, Cappelozza said it was a continuation of fighting to honor the memory of his father. Cappelozza’s father died in October 2021 three days before his PFL title win. But Cappelozza wasn’t told about it until the day after his $1 million win.

“I’m extremely happy,” Cappelozza said after his win over Austin at Esports Arena in Arlington, Texas. “It’s a great feeling. This is me following my dreams and the dreams of my dad. This is just to honor my dad. My dad worked his entire life for this, for me to follow my dreams. All I’ve got to do is keep making him proud and keep working on my side.”

Cappelozza’s 2021 regular season featured two first-round wins for a maximum possible 12 points to reach the four-man postseason playoffs. He finished Jamelle Jones with a second-round TKO in the playoff semifinals, then outworked Ante Delija for a unanimous decision to win the title.

Delija got his own finish Thursday night with a second-round TKO of Matheus Scheffel. A regular season rematch could happen, but there’s also the possibility of matchup with fellow Brazilian Renan Ferreira, who had the fastest heavyweight finish in PFL history with a 25-second knockout of Jones on the main card.

Cappelozza said he’d prefer to delay fighting another Brazilian as long as he can, but ultimately business is business.

“We’ve got to do what we’ve got to do,” he said. “I’d rather not fight another Brazilian. I’d rather fight someone from a different nationality. But it’s what we’re here to do. If it happens, it happens, and we’ll be ready to take care of it.

“Ante fought a great fight. I’m a fan of his. He did great work and he’s a great athlete. It’s heavyweights, man. It’s a tough division. These guys looked good out there today. It’s going to be a tough year for myself.”

Four of the five heavyweight bouts on Thursday’s card ended with knockouts. By contrast, all five of the featherweight bouts on the card went the distance.

Matchups for the second of two regular season fights will be announced later this year.

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2022 PFL 2 results: Bruno Cappelozza picks up where he left off, pounds out Stuart Austin for TKO

Bruno Cappelozza has proved to be one of PFL’s breakthrough stars since his promotional debut during the 2021 season.

[autotag]Bruno Cappelozza[/autotag] won the whole shebang in 2021 and now he’s one step closer to repeating.

In the 2022 PFL 2 main event, Cappelozza (15-5) ground-and-pounded his way to a first-round TKO victory over [autotag]Stuart Austin[/autotag] (15-8) at the 4:24 mark. The event took place Thursday at Esports Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

There was some brief clinching early in Round 1 before they separated. In response to pressure by Cappelozza, Austin shot for a takedown at around two minutes into the round. Cappelozza reversed and separated. A big overhand right stunned Austin, who tried to grab a leg. Cappelozza ended up on top, worked his way to mount, and finished the fight with punches.

The win earned Cappelozza six points in his season debut and extended his winning streak to five, with four knockout victories and a 2021 tournament title clinched over the course of the streak. Meanwhile, Austin enters a two-fight skid and has lost three of his most recent five fights.

The full 2022 PFL 2 results include:

  • Bruno Cappelozza def. Stuart Austin via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:24
  • Chris Wade def. Lance Palmer via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
  • Brendan Loughnane def. Ryoji Kudo via technical decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Renan Ferreira def. Jamelle Jones via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:25
  • Denis Goltsov def. Cody Goodale via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:20
  • Ante Delija def. Matheus Scheffel via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 0:59
  • Bubba Jenkins def. Kyle Bochniak via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Klidson Abreu def. Adam Keresh via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Sheymon Moraes def. Boston Salmon via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Alejandro Flores def. Saba Bolaghi via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

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PFL 2022, Week 2 predictions: Who are our three unanimous picks in Texas?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the PFL’s second event of the 2022 regular season, which features featherweights and heavyweights in Texas.

Austin
vs.
Cappelozza		 Palmer
vs.
Wade		 Kudo
vs.
Loughnane		 Ferreira
vs.
Jones		 Goltsov
vs.
Goodale
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
59-30		 cappelozza2022
Cappelozza
(94%)		 palmer2022
Palmer
(55%)		 loughnane2022
Loughnane
(90%)		 ferreira2022
Ferreira
(89%)		 goltsov2022
Goltsov
(85%)
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
67-36		 cappelozza2022
Cappelozza		 palmer2022
Palmer		 loughnane2022
Loughnane		 ferreira2022
Ferreira		 goltsov2022
Goltsov
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
67-36		 cappelozza2022
Cappelozza		 palmer2022
Palmer		 loughnane2022
Loughnane		 ferreira2022
Ferreira		 goltsov2022
Goltsov
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
66-37
trophy copy 2018 Champion		 cappelozza2022
Cappelozza		 wade2022
Wade		 loughnane2022
Loughnane		 ferreira2022
Ferreira		 goltsov2022
Goltsov
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
65-38		 cappelozza2022
Cappelozza		 palmer2022
Palmer		 loughnane2022
Loughnane		 ferreira2022
Ferreira		 goltsov2022
Goltsov
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
65-38
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 cappelozza2022
Cappelozza		 palmer2022
Palmer		 loughnane2022
Loughnane		 ferreira2022
Ferreira		 goltsov2022
Goltsov
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
64-39
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 cappelozza2022
Cappelozza		 palmer2022
Palmer		 loughnane2022
Loughnane		 jones2022
Jones		 goltsov2022
Goltsov
Nolan King
@mma_kings
64-39		 cappelozza2022
Cappelozza		 palmer2022
Palmer		 loughnane2022
Loughnane		 jones2022
Jones		 goltsov2022
Goltsov
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
63-40		 cappelozza2022
Cappelozza		 palmer2022
Palmer		 loughnane2022
Loughnane		 jones2022
Jones		 goltsov2022
Goltsov
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
62-41		 cappelozza2022
Cappelozza		 wade2022
Wade		 loughnane2022
Loughnane		 ferreira2022
Ferreira		 goltsov2022
Goltsov
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
59-44		 cappelozza2022
Cappelozza		 wade2022
Wade		 loughnane2022
Loughnane		 ferreira2022
Ferreira		 goltsov2022
Goltsov
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
49-54		 cappelozza2022
Cappelozza		 palmer2022
Palmer		 loughnane2022
Loughnane		 ferreira2022
Ferreira		 goltsov2022
Goltsov

The PFL is back for the second week of its 2022 season with featherweights and heavyweights on the bill.

PFL 2022, Week 2 takes place Thursday at Esports Arena in Arlington, Texas. The main card airs on ESPN2 following prelims on ESPN+.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, 2021 heavyweight season champion [autotag]Bruno Cappelozza[/autotag] (14-5) takes on [autotag]Stuart Austin[/autotag] (15-7). Cappelozza is a heavy betting favorite to start the season out with a win, and all 11 of our editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers have him as one of three unanimous picks on the main card.

In the co-feature, two-time season champion [autotag]Lance Palmer[/autotag] (22-5) will try to get back on the right track at featherweight against [autotag]Chris Wade[/autotag] (20-7). Wade came up short in the 2021 final. But Palmer has not won a fight since his 2019 title; he lost both his fights in 2021. Wade is a slight betting favorite, but it’s Palmer with a big 8-3 lead in the picks.

The second biggest favorite on the card is [autotag]Brendan Loughnane[/autotag] (21-4), who takes on [autotag]Ryoji Kudo[/autotag] (10-2-1) in a featherweight bout to open the regular season. Loughnane is one of our three unanimous picks.

[autotag]Renan Ferreira[/autotag] (8-2) meets [autotag]Jamelle Jones[/autotag] (12-7) in a heavyweight bout. Brazil’s Ferreira is as much as an 8-1 betting favorite, but he’s not a unanimous pick. Still, he’s got a sizable 8-3 lead from our staff pickers.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Denis Goltsov[/autotag] (27-7) is our third unanimous pick against heavyweight late-notice replacement [autotag]Cody Goodale[/autotag] (8-5). Goltsov is the biggest favorite on the card.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Cappelozza (94 percent), Palmer (55 percent), Loughnane (90 percent), Ferreira (89 percent) and Goltsov (85 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

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How to watch 2022 PFL 2: Who’s fighting, lineup, start time, broadcast info

Here’s how you can watch PFL 2, which features featherweights and heavyweights in action this week.

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The PFL regular reason rolls on this week with 2022 PFL 2, which features featherweights and heavyweights in action for the first time this year.

Here’s how to watch PFL 2, with a complete lineup and breakdown by division.

Brendan Loughnane, Lance Palmer among fighters set for 2022 PFL 2 card on April 28

PFL has announced the featherweight and heavyweight matchups for their second regular season show.

PFL has announced the featherweight and heavyweight matchups for its second regular season show.

2022 PFL 2 takes place April 28 at Esports Arena in Arlington, Texas and streams on ESPN+ and ESPN, promotion officials announced Tuesday.

The event will be headlined by reigning heavyweight tournament winner [autotag]Bruno Cappelozza[/autotag] (14-5), who meets England’s [autotag]Stuart Austin[/autotag] (15-7). In the co-headliner, breakout star [autotag]Brendan Loughnane[/autotag] (21-4) will take on Japan’s [autotag]Ryoji Kudo[/autotag] (10-2-1).

The ESPN+ prelims will feature a matchup between former back-to-back featherweight tournament winner [autotag]Lance Palmer[/autotag] (22-5) and 2021 PFL finalist [autotag]Chris Wade[/autotag] (20-7). Due to injury, reigning PFL featherweight champion Movlid Khaybulaev will not participate in the 2022 PFL season.

The 2022 PFL 2 lineup includes:

  • Bruno Cappelozza vs. Stuart Austin
  • Brendan Loughnane vs. Ryoji Kudo
  • Ante Delija vs. Matheus Scheffel
  • Renan Ferreira vs. Jamelle Jones
  • Lance Palmer vs. Chris Wade
  • Bubba Jenkins vs. Jo Sungbin
  • Denis Goltsov vs. Sam Kei
  • Ali Isaev vs. Klidson Abreu
  • Sheymon Moraes vs. Boston Salmon
  • Alejandro Flores vs. Saba Bolaghi

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‘Happiest and saddest day of my life’: Bruno Cappelozza learns of father’s death after winning PFL title

Wednesday was bittersweet for newly crowned PFL heavyweight champ Bruno Cappelozza.

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Wednesday was bittersweet for Brazilian heavyweight [autotag]Bruno Cappelozza[/autotag].

At the 2021 PFL Championship, Cappelozza (14-5) completed the goal of becoming the heavyweight champion by defeating Ante Delija (19-5) in an incredible back-and-forth battle that went the distance. However, just moments after hearing the judges scored the bout in his favor, crowning him the champion, and recipient of the $1 million prize, some heartbreaking news was revealed.

During the event’s broadcast, PFL commentator Sean O’Connell announced Cappelozza’s family withheld the news of his father’s death so that he would not be distracted before his fight. Shortly after exiting the cage, the news was revealed to the newly crowned champion.

Cappelozza’s father, Joao Cappelozza, died Sunday, three days prior to the championship bout at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.

A few hours after the event, Cappelozza posted a photo with his father on Instagram, along with a statement describing his emotions.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVj12f0glV6/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

“Happiest and Saddest day of my life,” Cappelozza wrote in Portuguese. “I didn’t know I had lost my greatest love and friend of my life. Thank you for everything, things that only God can explain, I love you beyond life, thank you for teaching me to be this human being that I am.”

Understandably, Cappelozza did not attend the post-fight press conference and his team told MMA Junkie he would be on the first flight to Sao Paulo, Brazil on Thursday to be with his family.

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2021 PFL Championship: Bruno Cappelozza out-brawls Ante Delija in wild, back-and-forth affair

The 2021 PFL heavyweight championship was a high-action bout filled with momentum shifts.

It didn’t come easy for him, but [autotag]Bruno Cappelozza[/autotag] walked away $1 million richer from his fight against [autotag]Ante Delija[/autotag] on Wednesday.

In the 2021 PFL heavyweight championship bout, Cappelozza (14-5) defeated Delija (19-5) by unanimous decision (49-45, 49-45, 48-46) in a high-action bout full of momentum swings.

2021 PFL Championship took place Wednesday at Seminole Hard Rock Casino & Hotel in Hollywood, Fla. The main card aired on ESPN2/ESPN+ after prelims on ESPN+.

The opening seconds of the fight set the tone for the mayhem that would transpire. After Cappelozza dropped Delija, he nearly sank in a submission. Somehow Delija survived and scrambled to his feet in the final seconds for a wild, explosive flurry.

In Round 2, both men had their moments with Delija nearly finishing the fight with strikes on the ground. At one point, it appeared Cappelozza may have even gone out but was punched back into consciousness by a heavy hammerfist.

The most frenetic exchange happened when both men threw caution to the wind and traded heavy punches in the pocket. Again, Cappelozza would get on top and land heavy, near-fight-ending ground-and-pound shots. Delija continued to hang tough.

In the championship rounds, the momentum shifts continued but Delija’s dominant moments became fewer and further between. Cappelozza controlled much of the final frame, which led him to the official decision.

Unbeaten in 2021, Cappelozza defeated Delija and Mo DeReese in the PFL regular season before he toppled Jamelle Jones in the opening round of the playoffs. With his win Wednesday, Cappelozza has now won seven of his most recent eight outings.

As for Delija, the loss is only his second since late 2015. Both defeats in that stretch have come against Cappelozza.

The up-to-the-minute 2021 PFL Championship results include:

  • Bruno Cappelozza def. Ante Delija via unanimous decision (49-45, 49-45, 48-46)
  • Movlid Khaybulaev def. Chris Wade via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) – featherweight final
  • Antonio Carlos Junior def. Marthin Hamlet via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 3:49 – light heavyweight final
  • Raush Manfio def. Loik Radzhabov via unanimous decision (48-46, 48-46, 49-46)– lightweight final
  • Jordan Young def. Omari Akhmedov via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 1:32
  • Julia Budd def. Kaitlin Young via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Don Madge def. Nathan Williams via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:15

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Video: Kayla Harrison vs. Taylor Guardado, more face off at 2021 PFL Championship weigh-ins

Watch the pre-fight staredowns from the 2021 PFL Championship weigh-ins in Hollywood, Fla.

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] might’ve done her final PFL staredown.

The two-time Olympic judo gold medalist and 2019 PFL champion squared off for the last time against her opponent [autotag]Taylor Guardado[/autotag] following Tuesday’s weigh-ins for 2021 PFL Championship. The two competitor are set to meet in the main event of Wednesday’s 2021 PFL Championship. They fight for the women’s lightweight title along with the $1 million prize.

Harrison (11-0) is set to become a free agent following her fight with Guardado. She has yet to revel wether she’ll re-sign with PFL or go else where.

The main card for PFL Championship airs on ESPN2 and streams on ESPN+ at 8:00 p.m. ET following the prelims on ESPN+ at 4:30 p.m. ET.

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Additionally other 18 fighters faced off including five other title bouts and four non-championship fights.

The staredowns include [autotag]Ray Cooper III[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Magomed Magomedkerimov[/autotag] (welterweight final), [autotag]Abigail Montes[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Claressa Shields[/autotag], [autotag]Bruno Cappelozza[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Ante Delija[/autotag] (heavyweight final), [autotag]Movlid Khaybulaev[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Chris Wade[/autotag] (featherweight final), [autotag]Antonio Carlos Junior[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Marthin Hamlet[/autotag] (light heavyweight final), [autotag]Raush Manfio[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Loik Radzhabov[/autotag] (lightweight final).

Check out the pre-fight faceoffs in the video above.

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Video: Watch the faceoffs from the 2021 PFL Championship press conference

Check out the faceoffs from the 2021 PFL Championship press conference on Wednesday.

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – The finalists for the 2021 PFL season got a good look at each other on Wednesday afternoon.

Ten of the 12 finalists faced off at the pre-fight press conference ahead of their respective title bouts at the 2021 PFL Championship on Oct. 27 in Hollywood, Fla.

Ray Cooper III was unable to attend the press conference in person due to travel issues, thus why there was no staredown with Magomed Magomedkerimov.

The following matchups had staredowns on Wednesday: [autotag]Claressa Shields[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Abigail Montes[/autotag], [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Taylor Guardado[/autotag], [autotag]Movlid Khaybulaev[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Chris Wade[/autotag], [autotag]Marthin Hamlet[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Antonio Carlos Jr.[/autotag], [autotag]Ante Delija[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Bruno Cappelozza[/autotag], [autotag]Raush Manfio[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Loik Radzhabov[/autotag].

You can watch the full staredowns in the video above.

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Video: Watch 2021 PFL Championship press conference at 5 p.m. ET

Hear from all the 2021 PFL Championship finalists at the pre-fight press conference.

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – The PFL’s 2021 season is almost over as its championship finale is set to go down next month.

The event takes place on Oct. 27 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. It features six championship fights, plus three non-title bouts.

You can watch the pre-event news conference for the 2021 PFL Championship on MMA Junkie today at 5 p.m. ET.

Expected to take part are PFL president Ray Sefo, as well as [autotag]Claressa Shields[/autotag], [autotag]Abigail Montes[/autotag], [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag], [autotag]Taylor Guardado[/autotag], [autotag]Ray Cooper III[/autotag], [autotag]Magomed Magomedkerimov[/autotag], [autotag]Movlid Khaybulaev[/autotag], [autotag]Chris Wade[/autotag], [autotag]Marthin Hamlet[/autotag], [autotag]Antonio Carlos Jr.[/autotag],  [autotag]Ante Delija[/autotag], [autotag]Bruno Cappelozza[/autotag], [autotag]Raush Manfio[/autotag], and [autotag]Loik Radzhabov[/autotag].

Watch the pre-fight press conference live stream in the video above.